Flush valve repairing tool



Oct. 4, 1932.

J. B. WHITE ET AL FLUSH VALVE REPAIRING TOOL Filed June 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 4, 1932. J. B. 'WHITE E1" AL FLUSH VALVE REPAIRING TOOL Filed Jun 4, 1 931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwmtoos a? JIBJVhi a Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE JAMES 3. WHITE AND MAURICE T. GOSSETT, 0F NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE FLUSH VALVE REPAIRING TOOL Application filed .Tune 4, 1931. Serial No. 542,172.

This invention relates to tools on the order of wrenches and particularly to a tool designed for the purpose of disassembling flush valves so as to permit replacement of the diaphragms, valve seats and other parts of the flush valve.

In one type of flush valve commonly found upon the market, the valve proper rests upon a rubber seat in turn carried by a valve disk in turn carried by a diaphragm. This valve and diaphragm are protected by an inside cover Which rests upon the diaphragm itself and by an outside cover which has screwthreaded engagement with the body of the valve and holds the inside cover in place.

In valves of this character, it is oftentimes the case that the outer cover will have become more or less corroded and will stick and in order to remove it, it is necessary to apply a wrench thereto. The inside cover, after the outside cover is removed, is very liable to stick, and a screw-driver or like instrument must be used to lift up the inside cover so as to break the adhesion between it and the body of the valve or diaphragm so as to permit this inside cover to be removed. In order to renew the diaphragm, it is necessary that the disk which constitutes a valve seat and which is carried by the diaphragm should be disengaged from the guide and that the auxiliary valve seat which is of rubber should be removed from this disk.

As before remarked, the operation of disassembling this valve requires that the operator carry a Wrench for the removal of the outside cover, a screw-driver or other sharp pointed instrument to pry up the inside cover, and the valve cage, and a pair of pliers or other serrated aw wrench to loosen the disk from the valve cage. After this disk is removed from the cage, means mustthen be provided to hold this disk from rotation in order to loosen the inner ring which holds the auxiliary valve seat in place. This is commonly done with a Stillson wrench, but this means that the wrench must be applied to the screw-threaded portion of the cage which is liable to injure the threads and in severe cases of the auxiliary valve seat sticking, the mechanic usually has to return to the shop and use a bench vise or some other tool of this character that is not readily portable. Furthermore, both the use of a bench vise or Stillson Wrench is very injurious to the threads on the lower edge of the disk and on the cage and after the operation has been repeated a few times on the same valve, an entirely new disk must be provided. Inasmuch as these parts are very liable to corrode, this severe sticking will happen in nine cases out of ten, making the trip to the shop almost an invariable one. The job in the best of times consumes from fifteen to thirty minutes and thereplacement of the disks injured will, of course, take more and more time as the valve installationgets older and the seats are renewed more frequently.

The general object of the present invention is to provide, therefore, a Wrench or tool of the character stated Which embodies in it all the necessary parts to remove the outer cap, pry up the inner cap, remove the disk and detach 'it from the cage and remove the ring holding the auxiliary valve seat in place upon the disk, the whole operation being completed without any action tending to or injure the threads of the several parts and the use of the tool permitting the job to be finished very expeditiously so that, as a matter of fact, it will take but a few minutes to disassemble the flush valve, replace the old diaphragm with a new diaphragm, replace the old auxiliary valve seat with a new auxiliary valve seat and reassemble the parts.

Other objects will appearin the course of the following description.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of our improved implement;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view 1 thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the latching nose of the yoke;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section through the lower jaw of the Wrench;

Figure 5 is an under side plan view of the yoke of the upper jaw with the ring detaching device removed;

Figure 6 is a section through the stem of the ring detaching device, showing the ring detacher in plan view;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View through avalve for which this device is particularly applicable V Figure 8 is a plan View of the diaphragm, the disk, the auxiliary valve seat and the ring holding the auxiliary valve seat in place.

Before describing the tool, we will describe preferably the valve for which the tool is particularly designed, which valve is shown in Figures 7 and 8. This valve is a common form of flush valve and is not part of our invention. In these figures, A designates the body of the valve formed to provide a seat for a diaphragm B. This diaphragm is an-.

nular and seats upon an upwardly extending wall C. The outer margin of the diaphragm is clamped between an outer upwardly extending wall D and an inner cover E which rests upon the portion D and upon the diaphragm. This inner cover is held in place by an outer coverFwhich has screw-threaded engagement with the outer wall D,.this outer cover being provided with upwardly extending hexagonal boss or head G. Disposed within the inner wall C is a guide H through which the stem of the valve I passes. The upper end of this guide His formed to fit the inner margin of the diaphragm B and is interiorly screw-threaded for the downward 1y extending exterio'rly screw-threaded annular shank of a disk J. This disk J i has an upwardly extending flange which is interiorly threw-threaded for the reception of a ring K, this ring being formed with inwardly extending lugs K as shown inFigure 8. This ring bears upon an auxiliary valve seat L of rubber or like material.

In order to remove the diaphragm, it is thus necessary to remove the outer cover F, the inner cover E, then unscrew the disk J from its engagement with the guide H and unscrew the ring K from its engagement with the flange of the disk J. As shown in Figure 7, of course, the guide H is provided with the outwardly projecting radial wings H which hold the guide from rotation.

The tool for performing the action above I referred to is illustrated, as before remarked, in Figure 1. It consists of the lower jaw 10 provided with the radially extending handle 11 having upon it the longitudinally shiftable collar 12, this collar being'formed with an offset portion13. Theopposite end of the jaw '10 is provided with an upwardly extending lug 14 to which the yoke of the upper jaw is pivotally connected. The lower aw is provided upon its under face, as shown in Fig-. ure 2, with a hexagonal recess 15 having radially extending slots 16 opening thereinto. This recess 15 extends inward to approximately one-half inch and opens into a tubular bore 17 into which the radial slots 16 are continued. This is shown in Figure 4. The hexagonal recess 15 constitutes a wrench which is adapted to be applied to the hexagonal head G for the purpose of unscrewing the cover F. The radial slots 16 are adapted to receive the four wings or lugs H of the valve cage or guide when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1.

The upper jaw 23 is swiveled within a yoke 18. The yoke 18 is formed with an annular portion 19 between its ends. One end of the yoke is pivoted at 20 to the lug 14 and the other end of the yoke is angularly bent down Ward as shown in Figure 1 toward the handle 11 and then is angularly bent and sharpened as at 21 to form a tapered portion adapted to engage the offset portion 13 of the sliding latch 12 so that when so engaged, as illustrated in Figure 1,.the yoke 18 is held parallel to the lower jaw 10.

The annular portion 19 of the yoke is circumferentially recessed at 22 (Figure l) and the upper jaw 23 is formed at intervals with screw-threaded openings for the reception of screws 24:, the heads of which project into this annular recess so as to secure a swiveling of the head or jaw 23 within the ring 19. The ring'l9 is formed at one or more points with an opening, one of which is shown in Figure 1 and designated 25 whereby these screws may be inserted or removed. It will be understood, however, that these screws are not removed after they are inserted unless, if necessary, to disassemble the instrument for some reason, but they simply providefor a swivelconn-ection between the jaw 23 and this yoke ring 19.

The jaw 23 is formed upon its inner face with a circular recess 26 which extends inward from the face of the jaw. Thisrecess is slightly countersunk as at 27 at its outer end. The inner end of the recess 26 opens into a smaller many-sided or hexagonal recess 28 as shown particularly in Figure 5. From this recess 28, there extends the bore 29. Disposed within this bore 29 and longitudinally and rotatably shiftable therein is the stem 30 provided at its outer end with the handle 31. whereby it may be rotated and shifted. The inner end of this stem carries upon it a head 32 or internal wrench. The upper face of this head is hexagonal at 33 to fit the portion 28. Beyond this hexagonal portion, the head 32 is formed ,to provide a circular disk 34 as shown in Figure 5 having the equi-distantly disposed notches 35.

Extending through the circumferential wall of the. recess 27, as shown in Figure 1, is a thumb screw 36 which may carry upon it the relatively enlarged element 37 which will I move inward when the thumb screw is turned inward and outward when the thumb screw is turned outward.

In the use of this device, when it is desired the implement is first used as a wrench with the hexagon socket 15 engaged over the hexagonal head G and then the wrench is turned to release the cover F from its engagement with the body D. For the purpose of detaching the inner cover which, as before remarked is often corroded, the tapered edge of the portion 21 shown in Figure 3 is inserted between the confronting faces of the inner cover E and the wall D and this inner cover pried up, Then the inner cover has been removed, the valve I is lifted out. It is then necessary to lift out the diaphragm B along with the uide H, the disk J, the seat L and the ring ii. when this has been done, the guide H is disposed downward as shown in Figure 1 through the bore formed in the lower jaw with the wings H disposed in the slots 16. The upper jaw is then lowered and the yoke held in this lowered position by means of the latching member 13. The stem 30 of head 32 is then forced downward which will cause the notched disk 34 to engage the inner ring K and the valve disk. The handle 31 is turned toward the left and this causes the disk J to be loosened from the guide H.

On continuing to turn the handle 31 in the same direction, the disk J will stop turning after a couple of turns because it shoulders itself against the shoulder formed at the junction of the portion 27 with the portion 26. This will hold the disk J and prevent its further turning and then by continuing to turn the disk 34 to the left by the handle, the inner ring K will be unscrewed. The tool is then unlatched and opened and it will be found that both the disk and inner ring are loose and may be readily removed by hand,

The old diaphragm and auxiliary valve seat are removed. Disk J and guide H are then cleaned of the old pieces of rubber that may stick to them, the new diaphragm is placed on the guide, the disk H is screwed back hand tight and then the auxiliary valve seat is placed in position, and the inner ring is replaced also hand tight. The tool is then closed and the handle 31 is turned to the right, tightening up both the disk and the inner ring in one operation. The tool is then unlatched, the valve cage is removed and replaced in the body of the valve, the auxiliary valve I is then replaced, the inside cover replaced, the outside cover screwed on and the operation is completed. In some cases the inner ring tends to become unscrewed first.

' Usually, however, after the diaphragms have been in use any length of time, the disk J will always loosen before the inner ring K loosens. In case, however, the ring does come loose first, then the screw 36 is turned in to engage the disk J with the jaw 23, the T handle is raised to carry the polygonal portion 33 into the recess 28 and then the handle is turned to the left until the disk is felt to loosen from the guide. Then the screw 36 is loosened and the tool used in the way previously described. Thus it will be seen that we have provided means operating either to first release the disk from the valve guide and then release the ring J from the disk or whereby the ring J if first released from the disk will not interfere with the release of the ring from the disk, it being obvious that unless means are provided whereby, if the ring J is released, the valve disk would be released, the release of the ring J would not secure the rerelease of the valve disk which would have to be released from the valve guide in some other manner and by extraneous means.

It will be seen that this one tool embodies all the elements necessary for the detachment of the several parts of the valve, which will permit the removal of the old diaphragm and the old valve seat and the replacement of these parts and that the work is done without any action which would tend to mar or otherwise injure the screw-threads on any of these parts.

While we have shown an embodiment of our invention which we have found to be particularly practical, we do not wish to be limited thereto, as obviously many minor changes might be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim 1. An implement of the character described, including a jaw having a bore to receive avalve guide, the bore having means for preventing the rotation of the valve guide, a second jaw movable into confronting relation to the first named jaw and having a central recessed portion, a freely rotatable element mounted entirely within the recess of the second named jaw, means exterior to the second-named jaw for rotating said secondnamed element, the element having means on its periphery to receive and engage with the lugs on a valve ring.

2. An implement of the character described, including a jaw having a bore to receive a valve guide, the bore having means for preventing rotation of the valve guide, a rotatably mounted second aw movable into confronting relation to the first-named jaw. and having a central recessed portion, the end wall of which recess is formed with a poly onal recess, a disk disposed entirely within the recessed portion of the second-named jaw and axially movable therein and having a stem extending out through the end wall, the stem having a polygonal head engageable in the corresponding recess whereby when the disk is shifted longitudinally in one direction, it is locked for rotation with the aw and when it is shifted in the other direction, it is rotatable independently of the jaw, the disk having means on its periphery to re ceive and engage with the lugs on a valve ring. 7

3. An implement of the character described including a jaw having a bore to receive a valve guide, the bore having means for preventing the rotation of the valve guide, a second jaw,movable into confronting relation to the first-named jaw, thesecond named jaw having a. central recessed portion, a stem extending through the end wall of the second named jaw, the stem carrying a disk disposed within said recessed portion and having means on its periphery to engage a valve ring, the stem and disk being longitudinally movable axially of the second named jaw, and means for locking the sec ond named jaw and disk to each other for unitary rotation when the disk is shifted toward the end wall of the recessed portion, said means permitting the stem and disk to have independent rotation when it is shifted toward the first named jaw.

l. An implement of the character described, including a jaw having a bore to receive a valve guide, the aw having a handle, an annular yoke havin pivotal connection to the first named jaw, the yoke having an extension disposed in alinement with the handle, a latch on the handle for engaging this extension of the yoke with the handle, a jaw swiveled within the yoke, the aw being recessed upon the face confronting the first named jav the end wall of the recess having a polygonal recess, a stem extending through said end wall and carrying a disk, the disk having peripheral notches to engage the lug on the valve ring, the stem having a polygonal portion adapted when the stem is pulled outward to engage with the polygonal recess in said end wall to secure unitary movement between the stem, the disk and the jaw, the disk and stem being independently rotatable when the disk is shifted toward the first-named jaw and inwardly acting clamping means on the second named jaw.

5. An implement of the character de scribed, including a jaw having a bore to receive a valve guide, the jaw having a handle, an annular yoke having pivotal connection to the first named jaw, the yoke having an extension disposed in alinement with the handle, a latch on the handle for engaging this extension of the yoke with the handle, a jaw swiveled within the yoke, the jaw being recessed upon the face confronting the first named jaw, the end wall of the recess having a polygonal recess, a stem extending through said end wall and carrying a disk, the disk having peripheral notches to engage the lug on the valve ring, the stem havin a polygonal portion adapted when the stem is pulled outward to engage with the polygonal recess in said end wall to secure unitary movement between the stem, the disk and the aw, the disk and stem being independently rotatable when the disk is shifted toward the first-named jaw, the second-named jaw at its end adjacent the first-named jaw having a radially extending thumbscrew.

6. An implement of the character de scribed, including a jaw having a bore, the outer face of the jaw being formed with a polygonal recess intersected by the bore, the bore having radial notches to receive the wings of a valve guide, the jaw having a radial handle, a yoke pivoted to the outer end of the jaw and having an angular. ex tension adapted to bear against the handle of the first named jaw when the yoke is shifted into parallel relation to the firstnamed jaw, means latching the yoke to the handle, a second jaw swiveled within said yoke for free rotation therein, the second aw having a circular recess extending inward from its ends confronting the first-named jaw, the outer end of said recess being annularly enlarged to provide a shoulder, the end wall of the recess being formed with a polygonal recess, a stem extending through the end wall, a disk on the inner end of the stem having peripheral notches, the stem being longitudinally shiftable in the jaw and being provided with a polygonal portion adapted when the stem 1s drawn outward to engage in the polygonal recess in the jaw, but being free from such engagement when the stem is moved inward and inwardly acting clamping means on the second named aw.

7. An implement of the character described, including a jaw having a bore, the outer face of the jaw being formed with a polygonal recess intersected by the bore, the bore having radial notches to receive the wings of a valve guide, the jaw having a radial handle, a yoke pivoted to the outer end of th jaw and having an angular extension adapt d to bear against the handle of the first named aw when the yoke is shifted into'parallel relation to the first-named jaw, the angular ex ension having a sharp edge, means latching the yoke to the handle, a second jaw swiveled within said yoke for free rotation therein, the second jaw having a circular recessezdending inward from its ends confronting the first named jaw, the outer end of said recess being annnlarly enlarged to provide a shoulder, the end wall of the recess being formed with a polygonal recess, a stemextending through the end wall, 7

a disk on the inner end of the stem having peripheral notches, the stem being longitudinally shiftable in the jaw and being provided with a polygonal portion adapted when the stem is drawn outward to engage in the polygonal recess in the j aw, but being free from such engagementwhen the stem is moved inward and inwardly acting clamping means on the second named jaw.

8. An implement of the character described, comprising cpposed aws, one adapted to receive a valve guide and hold it against rotation and the other having a recess to receive a valve disk and an internal wrench having a head disposed entirely within the recess of the second named jaw and having means exterior to the jaw whereby it may be rotated relative to the jaw.

9. An implement of the character described, comprising opposed jaws, one adapted to receive a valve guide and hold it against rotation and the other being rotatably mounted and having a recess to receive a valve disk, an internal wrench having a head disposed entirely within the recess of the second named jaw but vertically movable with relation thereto and having a shank extending through the second named jaw whereby the disk may be rotated or lifted, means on the head whereby it may be engaged for rotative movement with the second named jaw when the wrench head is lifted, and inwardly actng clamping means on the second named aw.

10. An implement of the character described, including opposed jaws, one having means for receiving a valve guide and holding it from rotation, the other jaw being formed with a recess to receive a valve disk, means extending into the recessed jaw and engageable with a valve ring whereby the ring and disk may be unitarily rotated relative to the valve guide, the means acting after the ring and disk have been rotated a predetermined amount to disengage the disk from the valve guide to stop the further rotation of the disk but permit the continued rotation of the ring to thus disengage the ring from the disk.

11. An implement of the character described, including opposed aws, one having means for receiving a valve guide and holding it from rotation, the other jaw having a head recessed to receive a valve disk, the last named jaw being rotatably mounted, means extending into the recessed head and engaging with a valve ring whereby the ring and disk may be unitarily rotated relative'to the valve guide, means whereby the disk may be held against rotation while the valve ring is being rotated out of engagement with the disk, and means whereby the valve disk may be clamped into said recessed jaw for common rotation and whereby the valve ring engaging means may be shifted to rotatably engage with the jaw and thus rotate the jaw to release the valve disk.

12. An implement of the character described, including opposed jaws one having a bore and radial grooves to receive the fins of a valve guide and hold the guide from rotation, the other jaw being formed with a recess to receive a valve disk, and an internal wrench having a disk disposed entirely within the rest of the jaw and formed on its periphery to rotatably engage a valve ring, the disk having a shank extending out through the jaw whereby the disk may be rotated.

13. An implement of the character described, including opposed jaws one having a bore and radial grooves to receive the fins of a valve guide and hold the guide from rotation, the other jaw being formed with a recess to receive a valve disk, and an'internal wrench having a disk disposed entirely within the rest of the jaw and formed on its periphery to rotatably engage a valve ring, the disk having a shank extending out through the jaw whereby the disk may be rotated, the second. named jaw having means whereby the valve disk may be held against relative turning movement and the internal wrench having means to engage and rotate the jaw when the internal wrench head has been shifted away from the work.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.

JAMES B. WHITE. MAURICE T. GOSSETT. 

